HOW TO DO GOOD BASIC RESEARCH AND "FINDING"
TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT ANYTHING
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To implement my productivity methods, I must have the absolute confidence that I can research and find the information and answers I need when I need them. Otherwise, in my lack of confidence, I will try to grab and store all the relevant information on all of the many things I want to do in the future - I end up with piles and masses of unused information and wasted time.
It is vitally important that I get this research process so well-refined that I can rely on it to produce the results I want.
So, at the end of this piece, I have written a procedure for me to follow - otherwise, I will be reinventing, usually partially because of the urgency of the moment, the process - and not doing it as well.
The Best Resource Of All
"Finding" the best (expert or competent) resource where you can copy (or use as a basis from which to build) excellent ways of doing things is the best, most productive research of all.
Approaches:
Do it yourself
Find someone to do it for you
Information sources: (if you don't know where to go, ask other people for ideas!)
People
Books - Look over table of contents for overview
Online - Google, Wikipedia, specialist sites in the area, how to's on YouTube
Resources - Specific experts
Levels of information:
Raw basic information
Already digested, put-together by someone else - Most recommended, spend time finding the best experts and what they have written
Definition and steps:
"Research is a process of steps used to collect and analyze information to increase our understanding of a topic or issue".
What do I want?
Where can I find good sources?
Go find it.
Use it.
How To Write A Good College Research Paper Fast, Easy And Stress-free (video, 10:58) - Brainstorming, finding sources, gathering data, put things together in some logical order,
Research Essay In Easy Steps (video, 7:27) - Details on doing an argumentative research essay
How To Do Research For A Presentation - Public Speaking (video, 1:16)
What Is Research - Basic Research Methods (video, slides, 2:04)
At a college, so pull out the salient ideas that relate to what you are doing:
Basic Research Skills: Evaluating Sources (video, 3:48)
Basic Resource Skills: Database Searching (video, 5:00) - Learn basic search commands! Follow the related videos in the series.
MY PROCEDURE FOR RESEARCH AND/OR "FINDING"
This is "in process", but an important item for me to complete, especially as I am now writing books that will have value to people in term of implementation and getting results. I must have enough valid data and I must find out "what works" (in actuality!). To get this going, I will first answer the first question and then see what I can copy. Writing Research Papers: A Step-by-Step Procedure. How To Conduct Research (eHow) - see links on that page. How To Research A Nonfiction Book. Of course, look above on this page...
Has someone already done this?
Who?
Use internet (See The Best Sites For Research.
Who would I call/contact to find out who is the expert
Books
Verify validity
Expert enough? (the source, that is.)
MY NOTES ON HOW TO FIND, GATHER, RESEARCH, ORGANIZE INFORMATION
Find, Gather, Research, Organize Information - gdoc with, so far some useful search tips.
In life or in any endeavor, it is desirable to "leverage" one's efforts, so that a small amount of effort can create a greater amount of results than something else using even more effort. See Principle Of Leveraging Other People's Efforts.
Research is similar to using SQ3R in learning; see Best Ways To Learn.
